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Koyna Dam

Weekend Plans: Go Kayaking In One Of India's Largest Freshwater Lakes

What Is It?

Koyna dam is one of the biggest in India, with the largest completed hydro-electric power plant in India. Since the river has such a huge capacity for generating electricity, it is also known as the ‘life line of Maharashtra’.
The dam’s backwaters run for 80 kms from the dam wall to Tapola, creating one of the largest freshwater lakes in India. With the Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary {also a World Heritage Site} and Sahyadri Tiger Reserve nearby, the surrounding area is lush with evergreen forests and fruit trees, bursting with diverse flora and fauna that make it a nature-lover’s paradise. Koyna is ideal for adventures like camping, trekking, kayaking, rock climbing, hiking, and rappelling.
If you’re looking to do something new and offbeat to do, pay a visit to Koyna. This oasis of serenity is compounded by the fact that mobile network and connectivity here is scarce, which means you can disconnect from technology to enjoy some peace and quiet in the lap of nature.

How Do I Get There?

Koyna Dam – Koynanagar – is a 4hr drive from Pune {approx 196 km} via NH48. It’s best to leave early in the morning on the day of (around 6am should do it). You’ll pass through Khandala, Satara, Umbraj, Malharpeth, and from Patan on to the Karad-Chiplun road, until you finally reach Koynanagar. Koyna Dam is also around 39km from Mahabaleshwar, if you’d rather start from there. There are plenty of smaller places to grab a bite at in and around Koynanagar, but we advise you to carry your own drinking water and some extra snacks for the drive.

If you’re traveling from Mumbai, it takes about six hours to reach Koyna. But the road trip is totally worth it. We recommend you take the Mumbai-Pune Highway and NH48 to cut short the traveling time, at least by an hour.

What Is So Awesome About It?

The main point of interest here is obviously the dam – which you can’t visit due to security reasons, though the nearby Nehru Garden {2-3km drive from Koynanagar} offers a spectacular view of it from the hillside for a nominal entry fee of Rs. 25. Built in memory of India’s first Prime Minister – Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru – here, you can also view a short film on the history and construction of Koyna Dam. We hear that the Garden is well-maintained, with lots of lush greenery and wide open spaces that make it the perfect place for a DIY picnic! From here, drive on to the Ozarde Waterfall – one of the largest falls {200m} in the Sahyadris, and a spectacular sight.

Buy a ticket from the Forest Department for Rs. 30, and trek through some dense vegetation to get to the falls – it’ll be worth it. These falls may not be around for much longer, as the Govt. is planning another dam phase here, which may block them permanently. Go boating at Shivsagar Lake on the dam, but since this is a ticketed activity, you may have to negotiate rates {make sure you see the actual boat before the handover of any money}.

We’ve heard that Koyna’s waters are the best in the country for flat-water kayaking, along with other activities like water scooters, fishing, and angling that can all be arranged beforehand. If you have time, you must visit the wild life sanctuary nearby for some wildlife watching, or trek to the magnificent Bhairavgad fort and Nageshwar Caves.

Anything Else?

The Koyna Lake Resort, run by MTDC, is popular among couples and families who prefer to stay overnight in Koyna. It’s rustic but clean, and offers meal packages along with stay. Other resort options nearby also offer different styles of accommodation, at very reasonable rates. There are organisations like Camp Koyna, Pugmarks, Adventures365, Tapola River Camp, etc. that host camping and agro-tourism trips to Koyna for longer than just one day. If you do plan on making any bookings, it’s best to do so beforehand as the options are limited. Monsoon if of course, peak season – though winter is a good time to visit as well.

#LBBTip

Making a day-trip means driving nearly 500km in totality, so maybe share the responsibility with a co-driver. Remember to look before you book, and to compare prices for activities like kayaking and boating on the lake.